Are you enough?

Imagine you're a beautiful, slender, wealthy, famous young actress.

But because sychophants, other people around you and the critics give you grief, you believe you are simply not good enough being just who you are, the way you are.

You somehow believe you need to, oh, lose weight. Maybe even lots of it. Or that you need a boob job - they're not big enough as nature provided them. Or maybe an eye lift because all the partying has dehydrated your skin, which has started to wrinkle because of it.

Every tiny element of your body, your face, your hair magnifies exponentially with every glance in the mirror. Oh my goodness! Is that a .. a .. GREY HAIR? The small strand somehow now appears to be the size of a jungle vine so large Tarzan and Jane could swing on it together - carrying Cheetah and their menagerie with them!

In your altered state of reality, you actually see them oscillating across your face!

Ahhhhhh!

What's a girl to do?

Lose even more weight ... smoke cigarettes ... drink a lot of alcohol ... take drugs ... become promiscuous ... or all of the above? If you're like so many younger starlets, you've captured our attention because we can't stop looking at the train wreck that is going to happen without a powerful intervention.

Unfortunately, unless you have people in your life willing to sit you down and insist that you stop this extraordinarily self-destructive behavior, more - and larger - problems are most probably rushing toward you.

But chances are you are making so much money and are considered such a celebrity that too many people don't want to lose their job because they rely on you to maintain their lavish lifestyles and bountiful bank accounts.

That can put you in a pretty lonely spot, despite being surrounded with people who are working for you -- who say they adore you and all you do -- and supposedly watching out for your best interest.

Interestingly, the message you've been given somewhere early on in this progression of madness that appears to everyone on the outside like it is an abundance of riches, is, believe it or not, *you are not enough.*

You're not good enough at your normal size, you're not good enough if you start to show your age, you're not good enough if you don't change this or that about your exterior -- nothing to do with your interior. Your spiritual base (no reference to religion), your personal confidence, your self esteem and self appreciation, your generosity and sincere focus on others is ignored.

This, unfortunately, is a "value" that is passed on throughout American culture. You're not enough. You're not good enough. You're not (fill in the blank: smart, cool, hip, loveable, pretty, strong, fast, tall, thin, young, old, wha'evah) enough.

I have worked with so many genuinely beautiful people - inside and outside - and it's amazing how many of them do not appreciate what terrific people they are. They feel something is missing. That they are not enough - just as they are. Inside, they believe they are missing a key element that tells them they are enough.

Here's a note I hope you read and heed: you are enough.

Work with what you've got; appreciate who you are. Where you are starting from *right now* to make any changes in your life is just the right place. Time, age, location - where ever you are? It's perfect for beginning to do anything you wish with your life.

And there is always room for improvement. I watch my weight to be healthy, active and maintain the high energy I need for my life and my work. I take classes to learn things I want to know; I love the sense of growing by doing things I've not done before.

But I'm not talking about fixing me, I'm talking about making adjustments that enhance the quality of my life and relationships.

I enjoy taking calculated risks - I do what I love and love what I do. I muster the courage to be as honest as I can with myself and those with whom I work and for whom I care.

All these things come from a sense of - for better or worse - a basic sense of confidence. Heck, I believe I'm *plenty.*

My problem is, as my best friend says, that my light shines *too brightly* for a lot of people. Too smart, creative, energetic, enthusiastic, accomplished, yadda yadda yadda.

Too bright? Me?

Nah.

I'm *just* bright enough.

;-)